MOVIE NEWS – Just like clockwork, Hollywood can’t resist revisiting the Robin Hood legend every few years, dusting off the classic tale of the noble outlaw for yet another retelling. With wealth inequality hitting record levels, the story of a hero stealing from the rich to aid the poor might be more relevant now than ever. However, in The Death of Robin Hood, starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Michael Sarnoski, audiences should prepare for a much grimmer, more serious interpretation of the folk legend—one where Robin’s band of outlaws might not be as merry as before.

According to Deadline, the film’s cast has expanded with the addition of Bill Skarsgård (Nosferatu), Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus), and Noah Jupe, who previously worked with Sarnoski on A Quiet Place: Day One. Speaking with Collider while promoting his A Quiet Place prequel last year, Sarnoski offered insight into his approach to crafting a fresh take on Robin Hood:

“I wrote this script right before I started work on A Quiet Place. I made a personal rule for myself: if I took on a big studio project, I had to have a smaller, passion-driven film on the back burner to keep me creatively grounded. So, I finished writing this before I fully dived into A Quiet Place and have been refining it ever since… It offers a completely different kind of Robin Hood epic than what audiences are used to, while also weaving in a deeply personal and intimate story. There’s a little something for everyone in it.”

A New Spin on Robin Hood

Robin Hood exists in an even more magical realm than Sherwood Forest—the public domain. That’s why Hollywood never tires of adapting his story, milking the legendary outlaw’s legacy for everything it’s worth. From Errol Flynn’s swashbuckling adventures to Kevin Costner’s laid-back, accent-free version in the ‘90s and Taron Egerton’s unfortunate Dark Knight-inspired take in 2018, there’s always another iteration on the horizon. Modern adaptations tend to miss the mark in one way or another, but in an era of skyrocketing economic disparity, Robin Hood’s fight against oppression feels more relevant than ever. Sarnoski’s decision to tell a darker, more brutal story centered on an aging, battle-worn Robin Hood may resonate with modern audiences navigating failing institutions and widening wealth gaps.

Hollywood has recently been exploiting public domain stories in all sorts of ways, often transforming beloved characters into gruesome horror figures—look no further than the slasher reimaginings of Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan. While The Death of Robin Hood is expected to be significantly darker than most previous versions of the story, it probably won’t take things to such gory extremes. Friar Tuck can rest easy.

Filming begins this week in Ireland, with A24 handling U.S. distribution. No release date has been announced yet.

Source: MovieWeb